Ben White squares up to Diego Simeone in moment not caught on TV cameras from Arsenal’s fractious Champions League clash after he ‘disrespectfully’ walked straight over Atletico’s pitch badge
Ben White was angrily confronted by Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone after the Arsenal defender walked over the opposition’s crest on the turf.
In the aftermath of the hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Simeone was walking behind White and took umbrage with him not taking a detour around the club crest before entering the tunnel – sparking the heated row, according to Spanish press.
Footage shared online by Marca showed the fiery Atletico boss slap White on the back repeatedly, grab his arm and give him a small push.
White then turned to face Simeone and was seen speaking back to him before security piled in and the Englishman continued down to the dressing rooms.
The clip shows his Arsenal team-mates William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Zubimendi all skirt around the outside of it, while White opts to plough straight ahead.
White’s act initially angers Simeone’s son, Giuliano, who plays for Atletico. The 23-year-old speaks to him before confronting him about what he had just done.
BEN WHITE STEPS ON ATLETI CREST AND SIMEONE REACTS 🚨🚨
On his way to the tunnel, the Arsenal defender accidentally stepped on the club’s badge, and Simeone immediately called him out 🗣️
Was it disrespectful or just a mistake? 🤔#BenWhite #AtleticoMadrid #Arsenal #UCL pic.twitter.com/9lzBQpGIkZ
— MARCA in English 🇺🇸 (@MARCAinENGLISH) April 29, 2026
Other players avoided the Atletico Madrid crest but Ben White walked straight over it
Footage showed Diego Simeone getting into a physical confrontation with Ben White
His father then follows his son’s lead to inflame matters.
Spanish sides in particular regard their club crests on the turf as sacred and to be respectfully walked around rather than trodden on.
In April 2023, Rio Ferdinand acknowledged this while working as a pundit for BT Sport for their Champions League coverage of Real Madrid versus Chelsea.
Ferdinand posted a video on his social media explaining that the pitchside table for the live broadcast had been placed directly in front of the Real Madrid crest on the floor.
Surely we can’t stand on the crest right here….
Joe Cole said it, “don’t poke the bear on a night like this” 😂😂#UCL nights like tonight 😍 pic.twitter.com/Og4kEv6YJX
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 12, 2023
The Manchester United legend and fellow pundit Joe Cole refused to stand on the crest to avoid disrespect to the Spanish giants.
That incident came 24 hours after Joao Cancelo opted to not stand on Manchester City’s badge as he made his first return to the club as a loan player for Bayern Munich.
As for Wednesday’s night encounter, Atletico boss Simeone was simmering all night and his usual combustible self on the touchline.
His side are still very much alive in the tie after a tight, physical game against Mikel Arteta’s men but were perhaps fortunate when a penalty decision against them was overturned.
With the scores level, David Hancko made contact with Eberechi Eze in the box and the referee gave a spot kick on the pitch.
But VAR then intervened and he changed his decision after going to the monitor, under enormous pressure from the looming presence of Simeone and the noise of the Atletico crowd.
The other two goals of the game were penalties, with Hancko the guilty party for the first, shoving Viktor Gyokeres, who then converted. Julian Alvarez then equalised from the spot after a Ben White handball.
But it was the Eze incident that caused the biggest uproar among Arsenal fans and Arteta himself, who did not shy away from declaring that the wrong decision.
After the game he told TNT Sport: ‘Speaking to the boys and understanding the penalty incident for the second goal getting overturned. It was against the rules and I don’t understand it. Very upset.
‘There is clear contact; he makes the decision and you can’t overturn it when you have to watch it 13 times.’
When asked if the referee was influenced, he said: ‘I don’t know. That’s an answer for him. It’s the wrong decisions and it changes the course of the tie.’
And regarding the penalty given against his side for handball, he added: ‘It is a rule and they have been quite consistent with that. I have nothing to say on that. The one I have to say is the penalty.
‘There are a lot of positives. A lot of very good things that we did. We knew we would have tough moments. Their home record is once again.
‘We are in an incredible position. We have to play in front of our people. It is in our hands.’
